It’s not specific to software development, but this article on it says:
The first stage of learning is knowing what to learn. While trite, it’s true – there’s what we know, what we don’t know and what we don’t know we don’t know.
This regularly comes up in planning, stand ups, and other discussion around the office. But I was reminded of it today, after seeing many of the reactions to the horrendous shooting in Las Vegas last night.
I try to follow a wide variety of viewpoints, especially on Twitter, and I have a pretty good handle on where most of the people I follow are coming from. I’ve seen a lot of good statements of support, empathy, and commiseration from left and right. I’ve seen a lot of comments cautioning people to do their research and find good sources of reporting from left and right.
And I was glad, but not surprised, to see it. These are people who know what they don’t know.
I’ve also seen a lot of people jumping to conclusions about the shooter, his motivation, his political and/or religious affiliation, the source and type of his weaponry, etc. from left and right. I’ve seen a bunch of political comments (attacking or supporting a politician or policy) from left and right.
And I was disappointed, but not surprised, to see it. These are people who don’t know what they don’t know.
How can that get fixed? Because if it doesn’t, I don’t see an endgame to actually improving things. To actually working together. Frankly, to see people with whom we disagree as people like us. I don’t have a solution, though I have some strong opinions about what it is not.
But one thing I know? Now isn’t the time to jump on soapboxes. There are still people in surgery. There are dozens of families having to plan funerals. There is a lot to learn about what happened, how it came about, and why. The arguments can wait a few days. Right now, our neighbors need our help.